Beneficial Knowledge About Uses Of Silica Fumes For Concrete Buildings

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When metal silica or ferrosilicon alloys are produced by burning woodchips, quartz, and coal in an electric furnace; vapors of amorphous silica dioxide evolves as a byproduct. This chemical is high in demand in the construction industry, due to its ability to strengthen concrete structures. It is now proved that silica fumes can be more effective in rendering more stability to the concrete mixture, leading to more durable constructions.

Physical and chemical properties of silica fumes for concrete structures

Silica fume is amorphous in nature and each of its tiny particles is 1/100th in size of a cement particle. Thus, a greater amount of surface areas are available from these numerous minute particles of silica fumes for concrete mixture, making this substance more chemically reactive.

Silica fume is actually silicon dioxide that reacts instantly with calcium hydroxide present in cement, leading to the formation of calcium hydrate. This strengthens the bonding of concrete mixture and makes the buildings more stable.

In spite of non-crystalline nature, silica fume makes the concrete mixture much heavier in weight. But the addition of silica vapors demands a huge amount of water to be added to this mixture, which may be a bit difficult in areas facing water scarcity.

Techniques of using silica vapors for concrete buildings

It is essential to add a limited quantity of silica fumes to the concrete paste made with water. The expert professionals are aware of handling the preparing and using techniques of silica fume concrete mixtures. They can find both wet and dry forms of silica vapors for concrete constructions, which can be prepared in a central-mixing machine or a dry-batch part of concrete plants. The addition of silica fume upgrades the quality of concrete and consequently the durability of the buildings made with it.

The buildings made with silica fume concrete needs careful finishes; though the flat surfaces need lesser attention than the curved architectural parts. However, it is necessary to buy silica fume concrete only from reliable suppliers.